The Life of Anna, Part 2: Entwined (52 page)

“But Devin. Please. This is such a wonderful opportunity.” She implored him with her eyes and words.

“Yes, it is a wonderful opportunity. It is a wonderful opportunity for Nate to...get away before things get messy. For you...Anna...you will remain in San Francisco the rest of your life.” His tone changed to low and gravelly. “And if you want to continue dancing, you will obey me immediately or I will shut you away in the Manor like the rest of my girls.”

She wiped the tears from her eyes as she turned to walk quickly back to where Vincent and Isaak were talking.

“Anna, what’s wrong?” Isaak asked, face full of concern.

“I....” She looked at Vincent and swallowed. “Thank you for the offer, but I can’t accept it.” She stared up into his kind brown eyes. “I wish I could,” she added in a whisper before turning and fleeing to the bathroom where she let her tears flow freely.

*****

When she emerged about fifteen minutes later, there was no trace of her misery anywhere, save her red eyes. She had resigned herself to her fate. And she would send Nate away to keep him from Devin.

She had taken no more than a few steps out of the bathroom when Nate appeared in front of her. “Anna, what’s wrong? Isaak said you rejected the offer for New York.”

Anna’s lower lip trembled, but she didn’t cry. She couldn’t. “I can’t go, Nate.”

Nate laughed nervously. “What do you mean you can’t go? You’re an adult. You can do what you want.”

“No, I can’t. Devin won’t let me go.”

“Devin won’t let you? What the hell are you talking about?”

Anna twisted her fingers in front of her. “Devin’s my...guardian. He...needs me here with him.”

Nate’s face turned red in anger. “You can’t be serious, Anna. Doesn’t he realize what a chance this is?”

Anna was in danger of losing the composure she’d just gained. “It doesn’t matter. I...I’m never leaving San Francisco. He said so.”

Nate took a step forward. “You can’t let him control you like that, Anna. Isn’t there anything you can do to change his mind?”

Anna laughed bitterly. Change Devin’s mind? Yeah, right...wait. “Alex!” Maybe Alex would be more open to the idea.

“Alex? Who’s Alex?”

“Someone who might be able to change Devin’s mind,” Anna said absent-mindedly.

Alex could talk to him. Alex was just as much her Master as Devin. But would he? It was worth asking.

She smiled, heart light, and went off in search of Alex. The lobby was crowded and she couldn’t see very far. She hurried over when she finally saw him across the room.

“Alex, you have to talk to Devin....” She told him about the offer to go to New York and Devin’s reaction. She was talking so quickly she hoped he understood, but she couldn’t slow herself down. Hope had risen anew.

When she finished, she looked up into his eyes, hope filling her heart. His face was impassive again.

“Alex?” she asked tentatively. Why wasn’t he reacting? She looked desperately at Wilhelm, who gave her a sad smile.

“
Nein
, Anna. Devin is right. You cannot go to New York.”

The hope that had blossomed wilted at Alex’s words. She raised her hand and rubbed over her heart. “What? Why?” she whispered.

“You heard me, Anna,” he said sternly.

Anna’s eyes filled with tears as she stared into his eyes. The eyes that had looked at her so lovingly in the past now looked at her coldly.

“Why?” she asked in a broken voice.

“Because neither he nor I live in New York,” Alex answered simply.

Anna shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t understand.” Her knees shook.

“You cannot live apart from us, Anna. You have obligations to Devin, which cannot be performed when you are not with him. It would be unsafe for you to be there alone and...bad things could happen if you were away from us for any length of time.” Alex remained cold as he spoke. His eyes flickered briefly to look behind Anna.

“Did Anna tell you her news?” Devin’s voice came from behind. He walked up and greeted Wilhelm and Alex with a handshake.

“She just told us,” Alex said, eyes hard as he looked at Devin. “I was telling her that I agreed with your decision.”

“You agree?” Devin looked surprised, then looked coldly at Anna. “You came to plead your case with Alex?”

Anna shrank under his gaze. She saw Devin look at Nate, who had just walked up. Nate took her hand and Devin looked at her with a raised brow.

Anna’s eyes widened. “I....” She swallowed nervously.

Devin frowned and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I think we need to have a conversation at the Manor before we leave on Monday.”

Anna bit her lip to keep from crying out.

“End it with Nate. Now.” Devin straightened and gave her a look.

She nodded timidly and looked at Nate. “Nate...c’mon.” She pulled at his hand and led him away from the other men.

“Anna, I was thinking...we can leave, without telling anyone,” Nate said softly. “New York is a huge place. No one will find you there.”

Anna shook her head sadly. She looked up intently into his beautiful brown eyes. The eyes she’d gotten used to gazing into. “Nate. You should go without me.”

Nate pushed her hand gently away. “No, I’ll stay here with you. Maybe we can....”

“No, Nate,” she said more firmly than she felt. But she couldn’t let him stay here and risk something happening to him. “I can’t.” She looked at him. “You have to go without me.”

Nate began to protest, but Anna stopped him. “Please, Nate. You have to go without me.” She paused, wondering if she should tell him about Devin’s threat.

He frowned at her. “I thought we had something special, Anna.”

Anna blinked back tears. “I like you, Nate. I really do, but I can’t leave here. It’s...hard to explain.”

Nate looked at her, bewildered. “So that’s it?”

“I’m sorry, Nate.”

He gave her a dirty look and then turned on his heel and stormed away.

She stared hard out the window, trying to get control of her emotions. A few minutes later, she felt a warm body move in close behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see Wilhelm standing there. He turned her around and hugged her to himself.

“
Liebling
, it will all work out. I know it hurts now, but you’ll feel better soon.”

“Why does Alex hate me?”

He pulled her away and cupped her cheek. “He doesn’t hate you,
Liebling
. He’s trying to protect you.”

Anna snorted.

“Why would I lie to you?” Wilhelm gave her a stern, but gentle look.

She knew Wilhelm wouldn’t lie, but she didn’t understand. Alex was so cold. Maybe Wilhelm just didn’t
think
that Alex hated her.

Kurt walked up at that moment. “I heard what happened, Anna. Are you all right?”

Wilhelm guided Anna into Kurt’s arms. Kurt held her and Anna leaned her head against his chest. Anna couldn’t speak over the lump in her throat.

Kurt and Wilhelm talked quietly as Kurt stroked her hair and she calmed under his touch.

Isaak came by a while later. “Anna, how are you doing?”

She looked at him and gave him a sad smile.

“I’m so sorry, Anna. I had hoped....” Isaak sighed. “I know you can’t go to New York, but would you be content dancing with my Company?”

Anna straightened and her heart leapt. “You want me to dance with you?”

Isaak laughed. “Of course, Anna. I’d much rather have you here than send you to New York, but I thought that if you had the opportunity to leave....” He stopped and shook his head. “I spoke to Alex and Devin already and they...agreed to allow you to join the Company, if you’d like to.”

Anna smiled and nodded. “I’d like that very much, Isaak.”

Isaak laughed. “Wonderful. I’m so glad. I am bringing you in as a soloist until the board members understand your value. Then I’ll be able to promote you to principal.”

Anna stared at Isaak. She wasn’t going into the corps? “Thank you, Isaak. I’ll try not to let you down.”

“I have no fear of that, Anna,” Isaak smiled warmly. “When you get back from your trip you can begin classes with the Company. You can spend September and October learning the repertoire and Nutcracker will be your first performance with us.”

Anna couldn’t help but grin. “It was already my first performance with the Company.” She performed in the first act of Nutcracker the night her parents died.

Isaak frowned in confusion, then laughed. “That’s true, Anna. But this time you won’t be in the first act.”

It was Anna’s turn to be confused. “I won’t?” It was primarily principals in the second act.

“Anna, just because I can’t give you the title of principal doesn’t mean I won’t use you as one. I was thinking Arabian, and Devin approved.”

“Arabian? You’re going to have me partner?”

Isaak nodded. “With Travis. You know him, correct?”

“Yes. He’s a nice guy.”

“Good. Don’t tell anyone yet. I haven’t posted the cast list.” Isaak winked and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you when you get back.”

Anna watched Isaak walk away, the sting of the previous hour dampened by Isaak’s words. At least she would be able to keep dancing.

She smiled up at Kurt and Wilhelm. “Travis is the son of the LA Elder,” she told them.

Wilhelm looked intrigued. “I had heard Brandon let some of his sons out and about. He’s a good man.”

*****

Wilhelm gazed down at Anna, who had been pacified with Isaak’s offer. Wilhelm had a suspicion that Isaak’s motivations were more than simply giving Anna an opportunity to dance with the premier dance company in the country. He saw the way Isaak looked at her; he cared deeply for Anna, but it was purely platonic. Was Isaak trying to get her away from Devin? If only that were possible.

But Alex was right. She couldn’t leave Devin. She was bonded to him and this city. Only a stronger bond elsewhere would allow her to leave.

Devin walked up a few minutes later to let Anna know he was leaving. She thanked him for letting her continue to dance.

“Don’t make me regret the decision, Anna,” he said sternly.

“I will do my best, Devin.”

Devin looked at Wilhelm. “I have need of Anna Sunday afternoon. Would it be all right if she cut her weekend short with you?”

Wilhelm saw Anna’s face pale at Devin’s words and studied Devin for a long moment. What was going on? “I suppose so,” he said slowly. “May she spend the night with us when you are done?”

“I’m afraid not. We are leaving early the next morning for the airport and we won’t be done until late.”

Wilhelm frowned, but nodded. He didn’t like this. But he didn’t have a reason to say no. His gut instincts weren’t enough to protest a Master taking his slave back.

Devin turned to Anna. “I will have Ian pick you up at your apartment at four.”

“Yes, Devin,” Anna responded nervously.

The fear in her eyes made Wilhelm uncomfortable.

“Good.” Devin shook hands with Wilhelm and Kurt, then turned and left.

Anna waited nervously at her apartment for Ian to arrive. She had been looking forward to the trip to Washington DC. Devin knew that Anna had never traveled and wanted her to enjoy the trip. Now she wondered if he still felt that way. She knew he was angry at her and knew the reason she was going to the Manor this afternoon: punishment for disobedience on Friday.

She trembled at the thought of Devin’s punishments. She would be lucky if she could walk tomorrow. How would she get on the plane if she couldn’t move?

A knock at the door made her jump. She quickly answered it and Ian came in.

“You ready?” he asked in his low voice.

Anna nodded nervously. Something about Ian’s demeanor frightened her. They had started becoming friends in the last few weeks after she’d found out he was a really nice guy. He’d even come out and stayed the night with her several times. With Seth gone, she didn’t have anyone else to call when she got too antsy. Devin had lifted the restriction after a couple of weeks when she started having trouble functioning after a week of no nightly visitors. Her body was addicted to sex and she needed release, so Devin said that Ian could come over when she “needed” someone.

She backed against the wall and stared at him. He looked at her with dark eyes.

He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. “Anna...,” he began. “I...please know that what happens this afternoon....” He shook his head. “I wish I didn’t have to do it....”

Tears came to Anna’s eyes. She was to be punished. He had just confirmed it.

Ian crossed the room and hugged her. “I have to obey Devin. You know that, right?”

Anna nodded. She knew and couldn’t blame him. She hugged him around his waist.

After a moment, he released her. “C’mon. Let’s get your things so Devin doesn’t get any angrier.”